Flood-gate.



3 SHEETS-.SHEET 1.

PATENTED .JUNE 2,1903.

B. RASTALL. y f FLOOD GATE.. APPLIOATION FILED rms. '1, i903.

No MODEL.

No. 729,962. -PATBNTED JUNE 2, '1903.-

B. RASCIIALI...

VFLoQD GATE;

` APPLICATION Ey'ILED FEB. 7, 1903. Y K l -no'uomm f, asHBnTm-snrmfz. .y

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Nb. 729,962. PATENTE; 'JUNE 2,1903..- 2 B.' RASTALL. f

- FLOOD GATE.

l APPLICATION FILED PEB. '1, 1903.-

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I0 MODEL.

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UNITED STATES atented June 2, 19.

PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN RASTALL, or vIoLA, wIsooNsIN.

y FLOOD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,962, dated-.J une 2, 1903.

Application tiled February 7, 1903. Serial No. 142,309. (No model.)

I citizen of the United States, residing atViola,

in the county` of Richland` and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flood-Gates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The main Objectsof this invention are to automatically release the Water from a dam or waterway to prevent bursting'or injuring the dam or other structure confining the Water and to prevent damage-by overflow in case of iioods or abnormal supply, also to regulate the flow or discharge from the darn or waterway below the crest or top of the dam, and generally to improve the construction and operation of automatic safety and regulating gates of this class.

It consists in certain novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combinations of parts, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings like letters designate the same parts in the several iigures.

Figure lisa front elevation of a double iiood gate embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same on thefline 2 2,- Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the inner face or Water side of one shutter. Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4C 4, Fig. l; and Fig. 5 is a similar section on the line 5 5, Fig. l.

Referring to the drawings,a a are the up'- rights; b, the sill at the bottom of the gateframe, which, however, may be of any con'- struction suited to the conditions of the case. In the present instance the frame is shown as made of wood; but'it may be made of any other suitable material, such as iron or steel. The uprights a are preferably formed on their inner sides, as shown, with vertical 0E- sets or shoulders d. In this frame are hinged at the sides on vertical axes a pair of shutters, each composed of uprights e and f and cross-bars'g, spaces or openings being-left between the cross-bars. The uprights e are 5o provided at the ends with trunnions h, which are fitted to turn in sockets in the sill b and protruding ends of round metal rods passing through the uprights c, as indicated by dotted lines at the leftin Fig. l. The outeruprighte of each shutter is preferably rounded on the outside to fit into and turn in the adjacent uprights a ofthe frame and is formed with -a vertical offset or shoulder to close against the shoulder d, form a tight joint, and relieve the trunnions h or hinges of the shutters from' strain when the shutters are closed. The inner uprights f of the shutters are formed on their inner faces with opposing vertical offsets or shoulders, one of which overlaps the other when 'the shutters are uprights e and fand having regularly-spaced,

cross-slats j, which are adapted to close or regulate the size of the openings between the cross-bars g of the shutters. provided at or near the top and at the sides with vertical'racks la, engaged bypinions Z onerose-shafts m, which are supportedV at their ends by bearings on the uprights of the shutters. Each shaft 'm is provided, preferably at its outer end, with a lever-arm n, loosely mounted thereon and carrying'a reversible pawl o, which is adapted to engage with and turn the adjacent pinion Z in either direction for raising and lowering the slide or valve. Each lever-arm is held in an upright These slides are position when notl in use by a bail por other Y a chain r or other connection to disengage it from the associated pinion when the slide or valve is to be raised or lowered.

The inside upright f of one of the shutters which closes over the other is provided at its upper and lower ends with verticallymovable bolts s, adapted to engage with keepers t on the gate-frame to hold the shutroo ters closed. These bolts are beveled or rounded at the ends, as shown in Fig. 5, so as to automatically slip into engagement with the keepers when the shutters are closed, and the lower keeper is provided with a roller u, with which the lower bolt engages to facilitate the withdrawal of said bolt when the shutters are subjected to the pressure of water tending to open them. U is a lever fulcrumed to the uprightf, to which the bolts s are applied. It is provided at one end with a vane w, and it is connected on opposite sides of its fulcrum by rods Q0 with the bolts s. When the shutters are closed and bolted, this lever, with its vane w, stands in a horizontal position, as shown in Fig. l, and it is normally held in this position by a counterweight Iy at the end opposite the vane.

1 A vertically-adjustable chute ,e is arranged to direct water when it rises above a certain level against the vane w, and thereby withdraw the bolts s and release the shutters. This chute is supported by and movable up and down on the guide-rods 2, which are secured at their ends to one of the shutters, and it is held in any desired position on said rods by set-bolts 3 or by other suitable means.

To prevent sagging of the shutters and to facilitate opening and closing the same, they are provided, as shown in Fig. l, at the lower end of the uprights fwith rollers 4, which run on curved horizontal tracks or ways 5. (Shown in Fig. 2. i

My improved flood-gate operates as follows: The shutters being closed and bolted,as shown in Fig. 1, and the chute ,s being adjusted for any predetermined water-level above which damage might result to the dam or waterway or by overflow in case of a freshet or abnormal increase in the Water-supply, Water rising above the upper end of the chute e' will be directed thereby against the vane w with such force as to tilt the lever o, withdraw the bolts s from their keepers, and release the shutters, which will thereupon fly open and permit the water to escape Without obstruction. The chute s' may be adjusted to any desired level, thereby permitting more or less overflow without unlocking the shutters. In case of moderate increase in the water-supply the water-level may be kept down within safe limits without opening the shutters by raising the slides or valves so as to uncover the openings between the cross-bars g more or less, thereby permitting the escape of the increased supply of water without increasing the overfiow at the top of the dam or gate and Without draining the dam o r waterway.

Various changes in minor details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the principle and intended scope of the invention.

I claim--l l. In a flood-gate for dams and waterways, the combination of a shutter hinged at one side on a vertical axis and provided With a detent for holding it closed, a lever connected with said detent and provided with a vane, and a chute arranged to direct water overflowing the dam or Waterway above a certain level against said vane, substantially as described.

2. In a flood-gate for dams and waterways the combination of a shutter hinged at one side on a vertical axis and provided with a detent for holding it closed, a lever connected with said detent and provided With a vane, and a vertically-adj ustable chute arranged to direct overflow of Water above any predetermined level against said vane, substantially as described.

3. In a flood-gate for dams and waterways,y the combination of a pair of shutters each hinged at its outer side on a vertical axis, a detent for holding said shutters closed, a lever connected with said detent and provided with a vane, and a chute arranged to direct Water from above a certain level against said vane, substantially as described.

4. In a flood-gate for dams and Waterways, the combination of a pair of shutters each hinged at its outer side on a vertical axis, a detent for holding said shutters closed, a lever connected with said detent and provided with a vane, and a vertically-adjustable chute arranged to direct water from above a predetermined level against said vane, substantially as described.

5. In a nood-gate for dams the combination of a framework the uprights of which are formed on theirinnersides with vertical shoulders, a pair of shutters each hinged at its outer side in said frame and provided with an offset or shoulder arranged to close against the shoulder on the opposing upright of the frame, and each provided on the inner side with a vertical offset or shoulder adapted to close against a corresponding offset or shoulder on the other shutter, a detent for holding said shutters closed, and means for automatically disengaging said detent and releasing said shutters when the water confined thereby rises above a certain level, substantially as described.

6. In a flood-gate for dams and waterways, the combination of a suitable frame having a vertical offset or shoulder on the inner side of one of its uprights, a shutter hinged at one end in said frame and provided on that side with a vertical offset or shoulder adapted to close against the opposing offset or shoulder on the frame, a detent for holding said shutter closed, and automatic means for disengaging'said detent and releasing the shutter when the water confined thereby rises above a certain level, substantially as described.

7. In a flood-gate for dams and Waterways, the combination of a shutter hinged at one side on a vertical axis and consisting of uprights connected by cross-bars with openings between them, a slide or valve vertically movable in guideways on said shutter and provided with cross-slats adapted to regulate and close the openings between the cross-bars IOO of said shutter, and means forraising and lowering said slide or valve and holding it in any desired position, substantially as described.

8. In a flood-gate for dams and waterways the combination of a shutter hinged at one side on a vertical axis and composed of nprights and cross-bars with openings between them, a vertically-movableslide or valve having cross-slats for closing more or less the openings between the cross-bars of the shutter and provided at the upper end with vertical racks, a cross-shaft mounted'on said shutter and provided with pinions meshing with said racks, a lever-arm loosely mounted on said shaft and provided with a reversible pawl adapted to engage with and turn one of said pinions in either direction, and a detent,

inner side of the other shutter and provided at the top and bottom with bolts for holding it closed, a lever `fulcrumed to said shutter' and connected with said'boltsl and-.provided with a vane which stands, when the shutters4 are closed vand locked, in a horizontal position, and a chute arranged to jdirectwater from any desired level against said vane, sub- -stantially as described.

rollers attached to said shutters at the-.bot-

tom near their inner sides, curved tracks for said rollers arranged to support said shutters in opening and closing, a detent for holding said shutters closed, and automatic means for disengaging said detent and releasing said shutters lwhen the Water rises above a certain level, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I hereto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN RASTALL.

Witnesses:

CHRIS ANDERSON, C. A. HENTHORN. 

